MOSLEY THE FEELINGS MONSTER

Mason’s picture book portrays a colorful, moody monster.

Mosley, a shaggy brown creature, feels “floaty and bouncy” when he finds “a shiny yellow balloon.” As he plays with it, his fur turns a matching bright yellow. But when the balloon pops, the deflated monster experiences negative emotions that also alter his appearance. During a bout of anger, for example, Mosley takes on a red, devilish look. When he sees the popped balloon in pieces, sadness overtakes him, and his fur becomes indigo. As he sits and cries, a one-eyed, shaggy brown and orange beast offers him a new balloon. Mosley thanks his new pal, whose kind action makes him feel “warm and glowy” inside. Now, Mosley sports cheery pink and purple stripes. He says, “I feel LOVE” and enjoys spending the day with a fellow monster. Using approachable language, Mason depicts reactions and feelings young readers will recognize. And Hollstein’s graphic illustrations cleverly use color to intuitively convey multiple moods. While there’s not much said about self-regulating emotions, Mason reminds young readers that everyone has a spectrum of feelings, and one can always try to help a friend who’s feeling blue.

A thoughtful, accessible story about recognizing and facing emotions.